Jumbos for pageants, but not those going back to the wilds
The perahera (pageant) must go on but not at the cost of elephants which are born free and are to be gently guided back into the wild to live free. This is the categorical consensus among many environmentalists in the wake of a Cabinet paper last week to “source” elephants for peraheras not only from the Pinnawela orphanage but also from Eth Athuru Sevana (Elephant Transit Home -- ETH) at Uda Walawe.
Loud and clear came the voice of Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya -- who in June submitted his resignation from the post of Director-General (DG) of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) -- on behalf of the ‘voiceless’ wild elephants awaiting the return to their jungle habitats in the temporary home that is the ETH. When the Sunday Times asked Dr. Pilapitiya why he had resigned as DG in early June, amidst much speculation of political interference, he declined to comment.
Reverting to the issue of ‘elephants for peraheras’, Dr. Pilapitiya said that he agrees with the suggestion that 35 elephants should be kept in a ‘pool’ under the charge of the State to be used for peraheras across the country. “But,” he says without ambiguity, “these elephants should be drawn from the Pinnawela orphanage and not from the ETH. If there is a shortfall in numbers, the Captive Elephant Owners’ Association should deliver the balance.”
At the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on July 5, Decision 17 is titled ‘Maintaining a pool of elephants consisting of about 35 tuskers/male elephants/female ele- phants, under the Zoological Department to make them participate in cultural activities’.
It states: “The perahera culture of Sri Lanka has a great history and has attracted the world's attention. It has been observed that it is essential to use elephants in this perahera to maintain its pride and devoutness. When several cultural activities are held together with the Dalada Perahera, the number of elephants is insufficient.
“Therefore, a pool of about 35 elephants is proposed to be established under the Zoological Department with elephants obtained from the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and the Uda Walawe Eth Athuru Sevana, with the objective of training for perahera purposes.”
It adds that the proposal made by Sustainable Development and Wildlife Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
Contrasting the Pinnawela orphanage with the Uda Walawe ETH, Dr. Pilapitiya points out that the elephants at Pinnawela will always be captive. They will never be released into the wild. However, the very concept of the ETH revolves around freeing the wild elephants which are provided a ‘transit’ home until they are fit to roam in the wilderness.
He states that as Pinnawela has a good breeding programme, there would also be adequate numbers to be trained over a period of time for the peraheras. If there are worries and concerns over inbreeding, a good breeding programme should be put in place between the Pinnawela elephants and those in the care of the Captive Elephant Owners’ Association.
“The ETH is a model for which Sri Lanka has acquired a very good reputation and we should never-ever tarnish that and betray the trust of the ‘innocents’ – the wild elephant babies which are under our protection and care temporarily,” reiterates Dr. Pilapitiya who has vast experience not only with regard to Sri Lankan wildlife programmes but also those in South Asia as the former Lead Environment Specialist at the World Bank office based in Colombo.
Echoing the views of many environmentalists, Born Free Trust’s Country Representative in Sri Lanka, Manori Deepika Gunawardena who is a wildlife biologist underscored that the elephants at the ETH have a future that promises rehabilitation and release to the wild.
“This is in keeping with their natural behaviour and ecology and benefits elephant conservation in Sri Lanka,” she said, pointing out that removing elephants from the ETH denies these animals that bright future and condemns them to a lifetime in captivity.
Ms. Gunawardena stressed that such a decision flies in the face of the good work that has been carried out by the Government at the ETH over the years and undermines genuine elephant conservation efforts.
Born Free has been working in Sri Lanka since 2002, with the beginnings being after a visit to the ETH. It has provided extensive assistance in the form of buildings, vehicles and equipment to the ETH, while working with a number of local non-governmental organisations on a range of issues, primarily linked to elephant welfare and conservation.
Going back in time to 30 years ago, a world renowned zoologist and designer of zoological enclosures, Vasantha Nugegoda, who has worked with elephants in many international centres recalled how he had pointed out to the then Diyawadana Nilame Neranjan Wijeyeratne that the urgent need with regard to peraheras was a breeding programme between temple elephants and those owned by the Captive Elephant Owners’ Association.
Suggesting that the Maligawa tusker should be paired with cow-elephants in the care of the Captive Elephant Owners’ Association, Mr. Nugegoda had recommended that the State should undertake the training of these already-captive elephants and even facilitate the breeding programme.
“There is no need for wild elephants to be used for peraheras. Such use is illegal and against conservation policies,” he says, pointing out that it is still not too late to set up such a ‘pool’, using the Pinnawela captive elephants and other captive elephants.
According to Mr. Nugegoda, Pinnawela elephants had been used in the Kandy Perahera, two elephants in 1996 and four elephants in 1997, without any issues.
However, they need to be trained well, through slow and measured programmes rather than quick ones which would make them suffer. Thereafter, when temples and devalas use them for peraheras, they should ensure that these elephants have an isolated area, a large plot of land, to rest before and after the pageant, with adequate facilities including basic necessities such as troughs full of drinking water, he says.
Lamenting over the heartrending manner in which elephants are transported for peraheras, Mr. Nugegoda is adamant that guidelines should be set in place to prevent cruelty to these pachyderms. They should not be tied up and taken in open vehicles, swaying this way and that in the scorching sun, but transported like prized horses and accorded the same respect and dignity. Such horses are taken in specially-designed carriages so that they have minimal stress. Elephants need similar facilities and should be transported in low-loaders and not in high lorries.
“Do you know that elephants are very clever animals and would get onto a vehicle like a pet dog,” he asks, urging a humane way of transporting captive elephants for peraheras.